Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Esteffani José Vásquez Amarantepartner of the deputy Jacqueline Fernandezvoluntarily agreed to be extradited to Puerto Rico to face charges of drug traffic, money laundering and sale of controlled substances to a federal agentafter being linked to an alleged criminal network dedicated to drug trafficking.
During the hearing, held in the Second Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ), the presiding judge Fran Soto ordered to impose as a measure of coercion preventive detentionwhich must be fulfilled in the La Romana Correction and Rehabilitation Center until the final phase of the delivery process to the Puerto Rican authorities is completed.
The extradition request presented by the United States indicates Vásquez Amarante as part of a structure dedicated to the trafficking and distribution of five or more kilos of cocaine in Puerto Rico, in addition to money laundering operations and the sale of controlled substances to an undercover federal agent.
In his speech before the judges, Vásquez Amarante declared that “He is innocent of the acts of which he is accused” and stated that he accepts extradition to “prove his innocence.”
The Public Ministry was represented by the court attorney and head of International Legal Assistance and Extradition, Osvaldo Bonillatogether with the prosecutor Elvira Rodriguezwhile the requesting country was represented by the lawyer Analdi Alcantaraon behalf of the United States.
The Second Chamber of the SCJ, chaired by Soto and made up of the magistrates Francisco Ortega and Maria Garabitosent the resolution containing the decision to the Executive Branch, for the subsequent issuance of the presidential decree authorizing extradition. This process could take between 21 and 90 days.
After learning of the extradition request against her husband, the deputy Jacqueline Fernandez proceeded to deposit a petition for divorce.
Last week, judges Fran Soto, María Garabito and Deisis Montás postponed the hearing after accepting a request from the defense, represented by the lawyer Ricardo Sanchezwho requested more time to prepare his arguments.
